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ONews is aimed straight at those we help every day: events professionals.

No hard sell, no cheering for the home team - ONews isn't about us, it's about you. Helping you to discover new speakers, new industry trends, the hottest venues and the latest from the frontlines of the events industry.

Mark Sanborn

Specialty Areas

Leadership Speaker Mark Sanborn is president of an idea studio dedicated to developing leaders in business and in life. Mark is an international bestselling author and noted authority on leadership, team building, customer service and change.

Mark Sanborn graduated cum laude from The Ohio State University. He served as the National President of the FFA, a youth organization of 500,000 members. In addition to his work as a business educator and author, Mark continues to be an active leadership practitioner. Most recently he served as the president of the National Speakers Association.

Mark holds the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association (NSA) and is a member of the Speaker Hall of Fame. He was recently honored with the Cavett Award, the highest honor the NSA bestows on its members, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the speaking profession. Mark is also a member of the exclusive Speakers Roundtable, made up of 20 of the top speakers in America.

Mark Sanborn is the author of seven books, including TeamBuilt: Making Teamwork Work, Sanborn on Success, and Upgrade: Proven Strategies for Dramatically Increasing Personal and Professional Success. Mark's book The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Make the Ordinary Extraordinary is an international bestseller. His most recent release, You Don't Need a Title to be a Leader, is making an impact on leadership development at every level.

He has created and appeared in 20 videos and numerous audio training programs. His video series Team Building: How to Motivate and Manage People made it to the #2 spot for bestselling educational video series in the U.S.

"We each know how good we have become", Mark says, "but none of us knows how good we can be. One of the most exciting opportunities we get each day is to pursue our potential". Mark Sanborn challenges his audiences with this message and provides insights for extraordinary living.

Mark Sanborn gave his first speech at the age of 10 in a 4-H safety speaking contest. He did so poorly and lost so badly that he decided to try again. After that he was hooked. Public speaking became his passion and eventually his vocation.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Mark worked his way through college as an After Dinner Speaker. After graduation, he was an Account Executive, Regional Manager and Associate Publisher in the magazine publishing industry.

Once asked what he would like as an epitaph, Mark explained, "Malcolm Forbes asked that his gravestone read, 'While alive, he lived". I aim beyond that. As a result of my life, work and relationships, I would hope my headstone someday reads, "While alive, he lived. While he lived, he loved. Because he loved, he served. And when he served, he led".

We invite you to learn more about Mark Sanborn and how his keynote presentations, books and learning resources on leadership, customer service, and remarkable performance can make an extraordinary difference in your work and life.

Scott is the Conflict Whisperer and the Fun Maker! Scott is known as the most engaging, insightful & fun speaker in the conflict resolution arena. He has presented to more than 10,000 professionals and is in high demand as a keynote speaker and workshop facilitator.

Scott has been awarded CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) designation - the highest international measure of speaking competence. He is accredited as one of Australia's top 100 certified speaking professionals by the Professional Speakers Australia (PSA) and is recognised by the Global Speakers Federation (GSF) as among the top 12% of professional speakers worldwide.

Cas is an Aussie Explorer constantly pushing the boundaries of human endurance.

Most recently, on the 26th January 2012, he made history by completing the longest unsupportedpolar expedition of all time, alongside his best mate, Jonesy. In 100 years of polar exploration no-one had EVER walked from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole and back without assistance. Many had tried, none had succeeded. After 89 gruelling days they made it back to the coast after having skied 2275km with everything they needed to survive in the harshest environment on Earth.

Dobbo has spent twenty-five years in the trenches alongside CEOs, world champion athletes, innovators, and pioneers. His clients are elite performers from every sphere – true outliers. Mark is a experienced performance coach, speaker and trainer who gets results.

Ella Baché is a respected skin care brand revered across the country. You may think you know its story, but there’s so much more to this brand than meets the eye.

It all started with a bold woman, a pot of wax and the decision to stand out in the foyer of David Jones.

Now, for the first time, CEO Pippa Hallas is opening up about the journey behind the brand, the disruptions, the innovations, the mistakes, the risks - and what it really takes to steer an 80 year old business through a rapidly changing world.

A massive thank you to you both for all your assistance from selecting to co-ordinating the speakers for our annual ProLoan conference. Feedback was that this year’s speakers where the best they had EVER heard at ANY event. So this is pretty amazing, because they do go to a lot of sessions like these.

Director of Network Relationships - Proloan (aust) pty ltd

Again this year you and your team have been fantastic and extremely helpful. In regards to you Sharm, you have been an absolute star and phenomenal help with our speakers and presenters, a great communicator, wealth of knowledge and so prompt with responding and looking at ways to cater to our needs.

Event Manager Fitness Australia

I would recommend, without hesitation, the services of Jane Rowland Smith and Ovations. Jane answered a last minute call to arrange a guest speaker for our principals. Nothing was too much effort, all was arranged within hours, and went very smoothly. The guest speaker was exactly what we required and our brief was followed. Thank you Jane and the team at Ovations.

All aspects of the process has always gone seamlessly with Ovations and we will continue to seek your assistance for the awards in the coming years.

Thank you again, your help has meant that our Awards are very professional and extremely well received by our members and guests.

Executive Assistant BSCAA NSW Division

Jane, I personally want to thank you for all of your support, advice, patience and all round kindness that you have given me over the last 3 or so years. This event would not have been as successful without the valuable MC’s you have recommended and the support you provided me when it all just seemed too hard